Decision letter
| Section | Decisions on new, disputed contracts (section 17) |
Head Office: 25 Cabot Square, London E14 4QZ T: 020 7282 2000 orr.gov.uk
Stephanie Tobyn
Director, Strategy, Policy & Reform
01 December 2022
Ian Yeowart
Managing Director
Grand Union Trains Limited
Riverside Lodge
Naburn Lane, Fulford
York
YO19 4RB
Jake Kelly
Group Director, System Operator
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited
1 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN
Dear Mr Yeowart and Mr Kelly,
Application for a new track access contract for services between London Paddington
and Carmarthen
1. We have carefully considered Grand Union Trains Limited’s (Grand Union)
application for a track access contract with Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (Network
Rail). This was submitted to us under section 17 of the Railways Act 1993 (the Act) in
June 2022. We have decided to approve access rights from December 2024 to December
2034 for Grand Union to operate five daily return services between London Paddington
and Carmarthen, calling at Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel
Junction and Bristol Parkway.
2. We will now draw up the detailed access contract to direct Network Rail and Grand
Union to enter into. This will be similar to the draft contract submitted with the application,
except for a contract length with ten years of access rights rather than the twenty years
applied for, and without rights to stop at the as-yet unbuilt Cardiff Parkway and Felindre
stations, as explained below. We will also include additional requirements relating to the
investments Grand Union will make (that justify a contract duration with ten years of
access rights) and rolling stock commitments, including the time by which the rolling stock
must be secured and the services introduced. We will discuss the drafting of these terms
separately with you.
3. This letter explains the reasons for our decision.
Background
4. Grand Union submitted its application on 21 June 2022 to run services between
London Paddington and Carmarthen. This application was submitted as a disputed
application under section 17 of the Act, as Network Rail was not willing to support the sale
of access rights.
5. The application was for:
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting